JP7037207B2 - Heat exchange tube aligner - Google Patents

Description

In the present invention, when the heat exchange tube is inserted into the laminate of heat exchanger fins, the tips of two legs from the first alignment device, which is a stock device for the heat exchange tube formed in the shape of a hairpin by a bender. The present invention relates to a heat exchange tube aligning device for transferring to a second aligning device in a aligned state.

The heat exchanger in an air conditioner or the like is formed by inserting a heat exchange tube for circulating a heat medium through a laminated body of heat exchanger fins. As for the laminated body of heat exchanger fins, a plurality of heat exchanger fins formed by the press mold device are laminated on the stack device in which the stack pins are erected, and then taken out from the stack device and replaced with the stack pins for heat. A replacement tube is inserted. Further, the heat exchange tube is formed by a bender into a so-called hairpin shape having a flat U-shape in plan view, and the heat exchange tube taken out from the bender is heated by the operator in a state of being set in the heat exchange tube stock device. After being transported to the position of the exchange tube insertion device, the heat exchange tube is individually taken out from the heat exchange tube stock device. As a heat exchanger manufacturing apparatus including such a heat exchange tube stock device and a heat exchange tube insertion device, for example, a configuration as disclosed in Patent Document 1 (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 6-15393) is known. There is.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 6-15393 (paragraphs 0014-0016 of the specification; FIGS. 4, 11, etc.)

The heat exchange tube formed by the bender has variations in the position of the tip of the leg due to tolerances and the like. As the heat exchange tube becomes longer, the degree of variation in the tip position also increases. Further, as shown in FIG. 22, the heat exchanger manufacturing apparatus 500 disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a structure in which the heat exchange tube 520 is inserted into the laminated body 510 of the heat exchanger fins in the height direction. Therefore, if the heat exchange tube 520 becomes long, the height dimension of the heat exchanger manufacturing apparatus 500 also increases, which causes inconvenience in terms of operability, maintenance, and the like.

Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and the purpose of the present invention is to store the hairpin-shaped heat exchange tube after being taken out from the bender sideways and to stock it, and to keep the uppermost heat exchange tube in a horizontal state. It is an object of the present invention to provide a heat exchange tube aligning device capable of suppressing the height dimension by allowing the heat exchanger fins to be inserted into a laminated body in a state where the tips of the legs are aligned while maintaining the height.

As a result of diligent research by the inventor in order to solve the above problems, the following configuration was conceived. That is, in the present invention, the two legs of the heat exchange tube formed in the shape of a hairpin inserted into the fin for the heat exchanger are positioned horizontally, and a plurality of the heat exchange tubes are laminated in the vertical direction. A first aligning device having a guide body erected on the bottom plate and guiding the stacking direction of the heat exchange tubes, and the heat exchange located at the uppermost portion of the plurality of stacked heat exchange tubes. An elevating device that raises and lowers the bottom plate so that the tube is always located at a predetermined height position, and the heat exchange tube located at the uppermost portion of the plurality of laminated heat exchange tubes in the first alignment device. The pull-in mechanism and the outer peripheral surface of each leg of the heat exchange tube pulled by the pull-in mechanism are guided, and the leg portion of the heat exchange tube is aligned with the through-hole pitch of the heat exchanger fin to be inserted. A pull-in guide for aligning the intervals, a positioning portion that enters between the legs of the heat exchange tube during or after being pulled in by the pull-in mechanism to position the heat exchange tube, and the pull-in guide. A heat exchange tube aligning device comprising a mounting table having at least the positioning portion and a second aligning device having a mounting table moving portion for moving the positioning portion to a predetermined position.

As a result, the hairpin-shaped heat exchange tube after being taken out from the bender is placed sideways and stocked, and heat exchange is performed with the tips of the legs aligned while maintaining the horizontal state of the top heat exchange tube. By making it possible to insert the dexterous fins into the laminate, the height dimension can be suppressed and the heat exchange tube can be easily and surely inserted into the laminate of the heat exchanger fins.

Further, it is preferable that the elevating device is a part of the first alignment device or the second alignment device.

As a result, the configuration of the elevating device can be made compact. In particular, when it is used as a part of the first alignment device, the laminating work of the heat exchange tube manufactured by the vendor can be easily performed by the operator.

Further, the pull-in guide is preferably a roller, and it is more preferable that the contact surface of the roller with the heat exchange tube is formed in an arc shape.

As a result, the heat exchange tube can be smoothly pulled into a predetermined position on the mounting table without damaging the heat exchange tube.

Further, it is preferable that only one leg of the heat exchange tube is in contact with the roller.

As a result, the roller can be rotated in only one direction, and the heat exchange tube can be smoothly guided at the time of pulling out or feeding without damaging the legs of the heat exchange tube.

Further, it is preferable that the pull-in guide and the positioning portion are arranged in a pair at a plurality of places in the pull-in direction of the heat exchange tube of the above-mentioned stand.

As a result, even if the heat exchange tube taken out from the first aligning device is long, it can be reliably fixed and held at a predetermined position on the mounting table with the tip positions of the legs aligned.

Further, it is preferable that the first alignment device is mounted on a trolley.

As a result, even if the bender and the heat exchange tube insertion device are separated from each other, the heat exchange tube laminated on the first alignment device can be easily conveyed.

By adopting the configuration of the heat exchange tube aligning device in the present invention, the hairpin-shaped heat exchange tube after being taken out from the bender is stocked sideways, and the top heat exchange tube is maintained in a horizontal state. By making it possible to insert the heat exchanger fins into the laminate with the tips of the legs aligned, the height dimension is suppressed and the heat exchange tube can be easily inserted into the laminate of heat exchanger fins. You can do it for sure. Further, even if the heat exchange tube is long, the operator can easily transfer the heat exchange tube from the bender to the first alignment device, and the height dimension of the first alignment device, which is the stock device of the heat exchange tube, can be kept low. can.

It is a top view which shows the schematic structure of the heat exchanger manufacturing apparatus in this embodiment. It is a front view which shows the schematic structure of the heat exchange tube alignment apparatus in the heat exchanger manufacturing apparatus of this embodiment. It is an enlarged view of the part III in FIG. (A) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IV-A in FIG. 3, and (B) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IV-B in FIG. It is a perspective view of the heat exchanger manufactured by the heat exchanger manufacturing apparatus in this embodiment. It is a flow diagram which shows the schematic process in the heat exchanger manufacturing method in this embodiment. It is a flow chart which shows the schematic process of the continuation of FIG. It is a front view which shows the state which the heat exchange tube stacking carriage as a 1st alignment device is set in a predetermined position of a heat exchange tube alignment device. It is a front view which shows the state which raised the bottom plate which laminated the heat exchange tube to the predetermined height position with respect to the mounting table. It is a front view which shows the state which brought the pull-in part close to the heat exchange tube at the uppermost part of the laminated heat exchange tube. It is a front view which shows the state which the heat exchange tube is pulled out from the bottom plate to the pedestal by the 1st locking tool. It is an enlarged explanatory view which shows the operation of the pull-in part from the pull-out process of a heat exchange tube by a 1st locking tool to the slide movement of a heat exchange tube by a 2nd locking tool. It is a front view which shows the state which the heat exchange tube is slid and moved to the mounting table by the 2nd locking tool. It is a front view which shows the state which projected the positioning part embedded in the mounting table from the upper surface of the mounting table. It is a front view which shows the state which the pull-in part separates from a heat exchange tube in a height direction. It is a top view which shows the state which the pedestal on which the heat exchange tube was transferred slide and moved in the horizontal direction. It is explanatory drawing which faces in the arrow direction from the position of the XVII-XVII line in FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state which the positioning part of the mounting table is embedded in the mounting table during the process of inserting the heat exchange tube into the fin for the heat exchanger by the heat exchange tube inserting device. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state which the insertion process of the heat exchange tube into the laminated body of the heat exchanger fin by the heat exchange tube insertion apparatus is completed. It is a top view which shows the state which the place | stand has returned to the position before the insertion of a heat exchange tube. It is a front view which shows the state which the retracted part has returned to the original position. It is a front view which shows the stock device of the heat exchange tube in the prior art.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the heat exchange tube aligning device 100 and the heat exchanger manufacturing device 200 having the heat exchange tube aligning device 100 according to the present invention will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the heat exchange tube aligning device 100 in the present embodiment is a part of the heat exchanger manufacturing device 200, and the heat exchanger manufacturing device 200 includes the heat exchange tube aligning device 100 and the heat exchange tube inserting device 300. have. As shown in FIG. 2, the heat exchange tube alignment device 100 includes a first alignment device 10, a second alignment device 30 to which the heat exchange tube 20 of the first alignment device 10 is transferred, and an operation control unit MC. .. In the present embodiment, the operation control unit MC of the heat exchange tube alignment device 100 also controls the operation of the heat exchange tube insertion device 300, and as a result, the operation control unit MC has all the configurations in the heat exchanger manufacturing device 200. The operation is controlled.

The first alignment device 10 includes a base portion 12 and a plurality of bottom plates 16 on which a guide body 14 is erected on the upper surface, and a hairpin-shaped heat exchange tube 20 formed by a bender (not shown) is turned sideways. It is intended to be laminated and held. The first aligning device 10 in the present embodiment is formed on a carriage in which casters 13 are arranged on the bottom surface of the base portion 12 and the handle 15 is attached to the side surface of the base portion 12, and the operator pushes the handle 15. The first alignment device 10 can be moved in the horizontal direction. Here, a plurality of bottom plates 16 on which the guide body 14 is erected are arranged on the upper surface of the base portion 12 at a required interval, but the bottom plate 16 may be composed of one sheet.

The heat exchange tube 20 in the present embodiment is formed in a so-called hairpin shape having a flat U-shape in a plan view bent in the opposite direction (180 degrees) at an intermediate position in the length direction, and is formed in the first alignment device 10. A plurality of heat exchange tubes 20 are laminated and held in a state of being turned sideways. A guide body 14 is erected at a predetermined height on the bottom plate 16 on which the heat exchange tube 20 is placed, and guides the stacking direction of the heat exchange tube 20 on the bottom plate 16. The guide body 14 in the present embodiment is appropriately arranged at the outer and inner positions of the folded portion 22 and the leg portion 24 of the heat exchange tube 20 on the outer peripheral edge of the design shape of the heat exchange tube 20.

The shape of the heat exchange tube 20 formed by the bender is slightly different from the design shape, but the operator heats the heat exchange tube 20 in a state of being appropriately elastically deformed according to the standing position of the guide body 14. The exchange tube 20 is placed on the bottom plate 16 and laminated. On the bottom plate 16 of the first aligning device 10 in the present embodiment, a plurality of heat exchange tubes 20 are straightened to the design shape in the plane direction, and the positions of the tips of the legs 24 are held in a predetermined position. Has been done. In this way, the heat exchange tube 20 is straightened to a design shape over a plurality of layers along the guide body 14 on the bottom plate 16, and the position of the tip portion of the leg portion 24 is the laminated body FS of the heat exchanger fins to be inserted. It will be laminated in a state where it is positioned and held at the through-hole pitch of.

Further, the bottom plate 16 protrudes from the left and right ends of the base portion 12 of the first alignment device 10. When the first aligning device 10 is set in the first aligning device fixing portion 50, which will be described later, the first aligning device 10 is placed on the elevating plate 54 which is raised and lowered by the elevating device 52 arranged in the first aligning device fixing portion 50. That is, the bottom plate 16 can be moved up and down by the elevating device 52 so as to move in contact with and away from the base portion 12. The elevating device 52 can adopt a known configuration typified by a fluid cylinder, a rack and pinion mechanism, or the like, and its operation is controlled by the operation control unit MC.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the second aligning device 30, which is the transfer destination of the heat exchange tube 20 laminated and held in the first aligning device 10, has a mounting table 31, a retracting mechanism 32, a retracting guide 33, and positioning. It has a section 34 and a mounting table moving section 35. The mounting table moving unit 35 slides the mounting table 31 between the heat exchange tube aligning device 100 and the heat exchange tube inserting device 300, and the operation is controlled by the operation control unit MC. The mounting table moving unit 35 in the present embodiment adopts a configuration having a rack and pinion mechanism 35A, a pinion gear drive motor 35B, and a rail 35C, but adopts another known configuration represented by a fluid cylinder or the like. You can also do it.

A pull-in guide 33 attached to the first mounting plate PL1 is erected on the mounting table 31, and a positioning portion 34 attached to the second mounting plate PL2 can be projected from the upper surface of the mounting table 31. It is buried in. The pull-in guide 33 is directly attached to the mounting table 31 via the first mounting plate PL1, but the positioning portion 34 is housed in the storage hole 31A arranged in the mounting table 31 together with the second mounting plate PL2. It is arranged (buried). As shown in FIG. 2, in the present embodiment, the pull-in guide 33 and the positioning portion 34 form a pair and are arranged at a plurality of locations at a required interval in the length direction of the heat exchange tube 20 in the mounting table 31. However, the positioning portion 34 may be arranged only in the specific accommodating hole 31A. Further, the pull-in guide 33 and the positioning portion 34 do not have to be paired.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the pull-in guides 33 in the present embodiment are arranged in two rows with a required interval. The lead-in guide 33 in the first row located on the AA line and the pull-in guide 33 in the second row located on the BB line are arranged in the same number and at the same interval. Further, the pull-in guide 33 in the first row and the pull-in guide 33 in the second row are arranged so that the positions of the left and right ends on the sides orthogonal to the slide direction of the heat exchange tube 20 indicated by the arrow X in FIG. 3 are different from each other. It has become. Further, the respective rotation axes AX1 of the pull-in guide 33 in the first row and the respective rotation axes AX2 of the pull-in guide 33 in the second row are both positioned in a direction orthogonal to the slide direction of the heat exchange tube 20 in the horizontal plane. They are arranged differently.

By adopting the arrangement of the pull-in guides 33 as described above, only the right leg portion 24R of the leg portions 24 of the heat exchange tube 20 is brought into contact with the pull-in guides 33 in the first row with respect to the slide direction. Can be done. Further, only the leg portion 24L on the left side of the leg portion 24 of the heat exchange tube 20 can be brought into contact with the pull-in guide 33 in the second row with respect to the slide direction. In other words, in each heat exchange tube 20, the leg portion 24R on the right side abuts on the pull-in guide 33 in the first row in the slide direction, and the leg portion 24L on the left side in the slide direction is in the second row. It is designed to come into contact with the pull-in guide 33. Only one of the legs 24 of the heat exchange tube 20 comes into contact with each of the pull-in guides 33, and the pull-in guides 33 in the first row rotate clockwise to pull in the second row. All of the guides 33 will rotate counterclockwise.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the pull-in guide 33 in the present embodiment is provided by a roller rotatably mounted at a height position separated from the upper surface of the first mounting plate PL1 mounted on the upper surface of the mounting table 31 by a predetermined distance. It is configured. The roller as the pull-in guide 33 is arranged in the same manner as the guide body 14 arranged at the outer position of the heat exchange tube 20 in the first alignment device 10, and is the contact surface with the outer surface of the heat exchange tube 20. 33A is formed in an arc shape. The heat exchange tube 20 is guided to a predetermined plane position of the mounting table 31 by the pulling guide 33 when it is pulled out from the first alignment device 10 toward the mounting table 31 by the pulling portion 39 of the pulling mechanism 32. Further, the positioning unit 34 in the present embodiment can be configured by a fluid cylinder, but is not limited to the fluid cylinder. The protruding operation from the upper surface of the mounting table 31 of the positioning unit 34 is controlled by the operation control unit MC.

The pull-in portion 39 is connected to the horizontal drive unit 36 and can move along the guide rail 37 extending in the length direction of the heat exchange tube 20 at a position above the mounting table 31. Further, the retracting portion 39 is also connected to the vertical driving portion 38, and can move up and down from the guide rail 37 to the lower surface side. That is, the pull-in portion 39 can be brought into contact with and separated from the heat exchange tube 20 laminated on the first alignment device 10 in the height direction, and the heat exchange tube 20 laminated and held on the first alignment device 10 is provided. It is possible to slide and move the heat exchange tube 20 to the second alignment device 30 without changing the posture.

The retractable portion 39 in the present embodiment has a first locking tool 39A and a second locking tool 39B having different lower end height positions. The first locking tool 39A having the required length range of the tip portion formed in a columnar shape is used when the folded-back portion 22 of the heat exchange tube 20 is taken out from the first alignment device 10 to the side of the mounting table 31. The second locking tool 39B having a glans-shaped tip required length range is used when the heat exchange tube 20 taken out by the first locking tool 39A is slid and moved so as to be pulled out to the mounting table 31 side. Be done. The height position of the reduced diameter portion 39Ba of the second locking tool 39B is formed at the same height position as the center height position of the pull-in guide 33, and the lower end portion of the glans-shaped portion has an arc shape and a mounting table. It is formed at the same height position as the upper surface height position of 31.

The operation of both the horizontal drive unit 36 and the vertical drive unit 38 described above is controlled by the operation control unit MC. Further, the motion control unit MC can grasp the horizontal position of the pull-in unit 39 in real time by the operation control content to the horizontal drive unit 36. In the present embodiment, a fluid cylinder is used for the horizontal drive unit 36 and the vertical drive unit 38, but the horizontal drive unit 36 and the vertical drive unit 38 are not limited to this configuration. Further, a non-slip friction sheet (not shown) can be attached to a portion where the retracting portion 39 (at least one of the first locking tool 39A and the second locking tool 39B) abuts on the heat exchange tube 20.

The heat exchange tube insertion device 300 in the present embodiment slides the heat exchange tube 20 transferred to the mounting table 31 toward the laminated body FS of the heat exchanger fins. Specifically, it is held by the guide portion 302 arranged in parallel with the guide rail 37, the contact body holding portion 304 extending in the direction orthogonal to the guide portion 302 in the horizontal plane, and the contact body holding portion 304. It has an abutting body 305 and an insertion driving unit 306 that reciprocates the abutting body holding portion 304 in the length direction of the heat exchange tube 20 (see FIG. 16). The planar shape of the abutting body 305 is preferably formed to follow the shape of the folded portion 22 of the heat exchange tube 20. The operation of the heat exchange tube insertion device 300 is controlled by the operation control unit MC.

The operation control unit MC moves the heat exchange tube aligning device 100 to the heat exchange tube insertion device 300 by the mounting table moving unit 35, and then operates the heat exchange tube insertion device 300 to operate the heat exchanger fin laminate. The heat exchange tube 20 is inserted into the laminated body FS of the heat exchanger fins held by the holding portion FH. Here, after inserting the tip of the leg 24 of the heat exchange tube 20 into the guide pin GP inserted in the through hole of the laminated body FS of the heat exchanger fins in advance, the guide pin GP is heated by the heat exchange tube 20. The heat exchange tube 20 is inserted into the through hole of the laminated body FS of the heat exchanger fins so as to be extruded from the laminated body FS of the heat exchanger fins. In this way, the heat exchanger HEX as shown in FIG. 5 is manufactured. Since the method of inserting the heat exchange tube 20 into the through hole of the laminated body FS of the heat exchanger fins using the guide pin GP is known, detailed description thereof will be omitted here.

At this time, the operation control unit MC detects the position of the folded portion 22 of the heat exchange tube 20 by the heat exchange tube insertion device 300, and the folded portion 22 of the heat exchange tube 20 is placed at a predetermined position of the mounting table 31 (arrangement of the positioning unit 34). Immediately before reaching the installation position), the positioning unit 34 is embedded in the mounting table 31. When the heat exchange tube 20 is inserted into the laminated body FS of the heat exchanger fins in this way, the heat exchange tube 20 is corrected to the design shape by the pull-in guide 33 and the positioning portion 34 to the limit, and the leg portion 24 is formed. It will be inserted into the laminated body FS of the fins for the heat exchanger while maintaining the state where the positions of the tip portions of the heat exchangers are aligned. Thereby, even if the heat exchange tube 20 becomes long, the heat exchange tube 20 can be easily and surely inserted into the laminated body FS of the heat exchanger fins.

Subsequently, a method of manufacturing the heat exchanger HEX using the heat exchanger manufacturing apparatus 200 in the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing a schematic process in the heat exchanger manufacturing method in the present embodiment. FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing a schematic process following the continuation of FIG.

As shown in FIG. 8, the operator sets the first aligning device 10 in which a predetermined number of heat exchange tubes 20 formed in a hairpin shape having a flat U-shape in a plan view are laminated at a predetermined position of the heat exchange tube aligning device 100. (S-1). A first aligning device fixing portion 50 for positioning and fixing the first aligning device 10 is arranged beside the heat exchange tube aligning device 100. The first alignment device fixing portion 50 is provided with a contact switch (not shown) that turns on when the first alignment device 10 is set at a normal position. A notification lamp (not shown) linked to the contact switch lights up. That is, when the first alignment device 10 is properly set in the first alignment device fixing portion 50, the notification lamp is turned on, and when not, the notification lamp is turned off.

When the first alignment device 10 is set, the operator confirms whether the notification lamp is ON (J-1). When the notification lamp is OFF (J1-NO), the operator performs alignment (A-1) of the first alignment device 10 at the first alignment device fixing portion 50, and the contact switch is turned ON (J1-YES). ), The notification lamp linked to the contact switch is turned on, and the operation control unit MC linked to the contact switch sets the counter value to 0 before starting the heat exchanger manufacturing process (S-2). ). The value of the counter is stored in advance in a storage device (not shown) together with the number of laminated heat exchange tubes 20 in the first alignment device 10. Further, the timing for resetting the value of the counter can be set when the first alignment device 10 described later is removed (S-23) or when the elevating device 52 is returned to the initial position (S-24).

The operation control unit MC operates the elevating device 52 to raise the bottom plate 16 of the first alignment device 10 to a predetermined height position with respect to the upper surface of the mounting table 31 as shown in FIG. 9 (S-3). Here, the height position of the heat exchange tube 20 located at the uppermost portion of the heat exchange tubes 20 laminated on the first alignment device 10 is the height position of the pull-in guide 33 arranged on the mounting table 31. It is designed to be at the same height position.

Next, the motion control unit MC operates the vertical drive unit 38 of the retractable unit 39 to lower the first locking tool 39A of the retractable unit 39 toward the heat exchange tube 20 (S-4), FIG. As shown in the above, the side surface of the first locking tool 39A is brought into contact with the inside of the folded-back portion 22. Since the operation control unit MC stands by in a state where the horizontal drive unit 36 aligns the plane position of the first locking tool 39A with the plane position of the folded portion 22 of the heat exchange tube 20 in advance, the first locking unit MC stands by. The tool 39A and the heat exchange tube 20 do not interfere with each other. Subsequently, the operation control unit MC operates the horizontal drive unit 36 to move the retracting unit 39 toward the mounting table 31 by a required distance (S-5). As a result, the uppermost heat exchange tube 20 laminated on the first alignment device 10 can be taken out to the side of the mounting table 31 as shown in FIG.

Next, as shown in FIG. 12A, the motion control unit MC operates the vertical drive unit 38 to separate the first locking tool 39A from the heat exchange tube 20 (S-6). After operating the horizontal drive unit 36 as shown in FIG. 12B to move the plane position of the second locking tool 39B to the plane position of the folded portion 22 of the heat exchange tube 20 (S-7). As shown in FIG. 12C, the vertical drive unit 38 is operated to lower the second locking tool 39B so as to approach the heat exchange tube 20 (S-8). At this time, the height position of the reduced diameter portion 39Ba of the second locking tool 39B coincides with the height position of the heat exchange tube 20. Since the reduced diameter portion 39Ba is formed in an arc shape, the reduced diameter portion 39Ba can be brought into close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the heat exchange tube 20.

Next, the motion control unit MC operates the horizontal drive unit 36, further slides and moves the heat exchange tube 20 drawn out to the mounting table 31 as shown in FIG. 13, and moves the heat exchange tube 20 to the first alignment device 10. Is transferred to the mounting table 31 (S-9). The heat exchange tube 20 transferred to the mounting table 31 is guided to a predetermined position on the mounting table 31 by abutting on the side peripheral surface of the pull-in guide 33 erected on the mounting table 31, and the legs 24 are guided to a predetermined position. The position of the tip is aligned with the predetermined position.

Further, the motion control unit MC constantly detects the horizontal position of the second locking tool 39B while the heat exchange tube 20 is slid and moved on the mounting table 31. As a result, the motion control unit MC sequentially operates the positioning unit 34 immediately after the second locking tool 39B disposed in the inner region of the heat exchange tube 20 passes the position of the positioning unit 34 of the mounting table 31. As shown in FIG. 14, the positioning portion 34 on the side of the first alignment device 10 is sequentially projected from the upper surface of the mounting table 31 (S-10). In the heat exchange tube 20 that slides and moves on the mounting table 31 in this way, the outer side surface and the inner side surface of the leg portion 24 are held by the pull-in guide 33, and the inner side surface of the folded portion 22 is held by the positioning portion 34. Will be. That is, the heat exchange tube 20 drawn out to the mounting table 31 is corrected to the design shape, and the plane position on the mounting table 31 is positioned and fixed in a state where the positions of the tips of the legs 24 are aligned with the predetermined positions. Will be.

Then, when the heat exchange tube 20 is completely transferred to the mounting table 31, the operation control unit MC operates the vertical drive unit 38 as shown in FIG. 15 to separate the pull-in unit 39 from the heat exchange tube 20. Raise to make (S-11). Next, the operation control unit MC operates the mounting table moving unit 35 and directs the mounting table 31 on which the heat exchange tube 20 is transferred toward the arrangement position of the heat exchange tube insertion device 300 as shown in FIG. Move (S-12). Subsequently, the motion control unit MC fixes the position of the mounting table 31 and operates the insertion drive unit 306 to extend the tip of the heat exchange tube 20 mounted on the mounting table 31 as shown in FIG. The heat exchange tube 20 is slid and moved toward the laminated body FS of the heat exchanger fins waiting above (S-13).

At this time as well, the operation control unit MC constantly detects the horizontal position of the contact body 305 or the contact body holding unit 304 based on the amount of power supplied to the insertion drive unit 306, the output content to the encoder, and the like. Before the position of the folded portion 22 of the heat exchange tube 20 reaches the position of the positioning portion 34, the order is opposite to that at the time of transfer from the first aligning device 10 to the mounting table 31 (from the folded portion 22 toward the tip portion). The positioning unit 34 is sequentially retracted from the upper surface of the mounting table 31 (S-14). In this way, interference between the folded-back portion 22 and the positioning portion 34 when the heat exchange tube 20 by the heat exchange tube insertion device 300 is slid and moved toward the laminated body FS of the heat exchanger fins is prevented (FIG. 18). ).

Even when the heat exchange tube 20 is inserted into the heat exchanger fin laminate FS, the heat exchange tube 20 maintains a state in which the outer peripheral surface is in contact with the retracting guide 33, so that the position of the tip portion of the leg portion 24 is located. Is in the positioned state. As a result, the tip of the leg portion 24 of the heat exchange tube 20 can be easily and surely inserted into the through hole (not shown) of the laminated body FS of the heat exchanger fins (S-15) (FIG. 19). Then, when the heat exchanger HEX as shown in FIG. 5 is manufactured by inserting the heat exchange tube 20 through the laminated body FS of the fins for the heat exchanger, the operation control unit MC puts the heat exchanger HEX in a hand (not shown). Take it out (S-16).

Next, the motion control unit MC operates the insertion drive unit 306 to return the contact body holding unit 304 and the contact body 305 to the positions before the insertion step of the heat exchange tube 20 as shown in FIG. 20 (S- 17). Subsequently, the operation control unit MC operates the mounting table moving unit 35 to return the mounting table 31 to the heat exchange tube aligning device 100 (S-18). Then, the operation control unit MC operates the horizontal drive unit 36 to return the pull-in unit 39 to the position (initial position) where the next heat exchange tube 20 is pulled out from the first alignment device 10 as shown in FIG. 21 (S- 19). Then, the motion control unit MC operates the elevating device 52 to raise the bottom plate 16 of the first alignment device 10 by the height of the heat exchange tube 20 (S-20).

Further, the operation control unit MC performs a process of adding 1 to the value of the counter (S-21) each time the elevating device 52 is operated. Then, the operation control unit MC determines whether or not the value of the counter after addition is equal to or greater than the number of layers (J-2), and if the value of the counter after addition is less than the number of layers, (S). -4) Return to (S-21) and repeat the process (J2-NO). When the value of the counter after addition is equal to or greater than the number of stacked layers (J2-YES), the operation control unit MC notifies the operator by a reporting means (not shown) represented by a rotating lamp, a speaker, or the like, and informs the operator. It is also possible to notify (S-22) that the heat exchange tube 20 stocked in the first alignment device 10 has run out.

When the operator removes the first aligning device 10 from which all the laminated heat exchange tubes 20 have been taken out from the first aligning device fixing portion 50 (S-23), the contact switch is turned from on to off. When the contact switch is turned off, the operation control unit MC may lower the elevating device 52 to return it to the initial position (S-24), and then end the heat exchanger manufacturing process (END). If the operator sets a new first aligning device 10 in the first aligning device fixing portion 50 (S-1) as necessary, the manufacturing process of the heat exchanger HEX described above can be repeatedly executed.

The heat exchange tube aligning device 100 according to the present invention and the heat exchanger manufacturing apparatus 200 having the same have been described in detail above based on the embodiments. However, the heat exchange tube aligning device 100 according to the present invention and the heat having the same have been described in detail. The exchanger manufacturing apparatus 200 is not limited to the above embodiment.

For example, in the present embodiment, the operation control unit MC, which is a part of the configuration of the heat exchange tube alignment device 100, also controls the operation of the heat exchange tube insertion device 300, and as a result, the operation control of the heat exchanger manufacturing device 200. The form to be performed is also described, but the present invention is not limited to this form. In addition to the operation control unit MC of the heat exchange tube alignment device 100, the second operation control unit (not shown) that controls the operation of the heat exchange tube insertion device 300 and the operation control of the heat exchanger manufacturing device 200 are performed to control the overall operation. It is also possible to adopt a form having a unit (not shown) in which the integrated operation control unit controls the operation control unit MC and the second operation control unit in an integrated manner.

Further, in the present embodiment, in the first alignment device 10, the tip position of the leg portion 24 of the heat exchange tube 20 is laminated and held in a state of being positioned at the through-hole pitch of the laminated body FS of the heat exchanger fins to be inserted. However, it is not limited to this form. The heat exchange tubes 20 laminated on the first alignment device 10 may be aligned to such an extent that the uppermost heat exchange tubes 20 can be smoothly drawn into the second alignment device 30.

Further, in the present embodiment, the first alignment device 10 is formed in a dolly shape, but it can also be a fixed type. Further, the elevating device 52 can be mounted as a part of the first alignment device 10 or the second alignment device 30. In particular, when the elevating device 52 is mounted on the first alignment device 10, the laminating work of the heat exchange tube 20 manufactured by the vendor can be facilitated. When the first alignment device 10 is shaped like a trolley for the present embodiment, it is preferable to adopt a foot pump type fluid cylinder, and the elevating device 52 is to be reduced in size, weight and cost. It is convenient in that it can be done.

Further, in the present embodiment, the retracting portion 39 of the retracting mechanism 32 is configured by the first locking tool 39A and the second locking tool 39B having different lengths, but the present invention is limited to this embodiment. It's not a thing. If the expansion / contraction amount (lower end height position) of the pull-in portion 39 with respect to the heat exchange tube 20 can be changed, a single pull-in portion 39 can be formed.

Further, in the present embodiment, a mode in which a roller is used as the pull-in guide 33 is described, but the present embodiment is not limited to this mode. As another form of the pull-in guide, a cylinder or a cylinder formed of a material having a small coefficient of friction can also be used. In this embodiment, the smoothness when the leg portion 24 of the heat exchange tube 20 passes is slightly inferior to that of the above embodiment, but the leg portion 24 of the heat exchange tube 20 is provided with respect to one lead-in guide 33. It is possible to guide the two in contact with each other. That is, it is convenient in that it can be provided at low cost by reducing the number of arrangements of the lead-in guides 33 and simplifying the structure.

Further, in the present embodiment, the mode in which the positioning unit 34 protrudes upward from the lower side of the mounting table 31 is described, but the positioning unit 34 is not limited to this form. It is also possible to adopt a form in which the heat exchange tube 20 is drawn into and retracted from above the mounting table 31 into the inner region (inner position) of the leg portion 24 of the heat exchange tube 20.

Further, the mounting table moving unit 35 in the present embodiment slides the mounting table 31 between the heat exchange tube aligning device 100 and the heat exchange tube inserting device 300, but is not limited to this embodiment. The mounting table moving unit 35 is for moving the mounting table 31 on which the heat exchange tube 20 is transferred to a predetermined position, and the moving destination is not limited to the heat exchange tube insertion device 300, and the moving direction is only in the horizontal direction. It can also be moved in the height direction or three-dimensionally instead of.

Further, the heat exchange tube insertion device 300 in the present embodiment is used for the heat exchanger after inserting the tip of the leg portion 24 of the heat exchange tube 20 into the guide pin GP previously inserted into the laminated body FS of the heat exchanger fins. Although the form of inserting the heat exchange tube 20 into the fin laminate FS is described, the heat exchange tube insertion device 300 adopts the form of directly inserting the heat exchange tube 20 into the heat exchanger fin laminate FS. You can also.

Further, in the above embodiment, the embodiment of the heat exchanger manufacturing device 200 in which the heat exchange tube inserting devices 300 are arranged side by side in the heat exchange tube aligning device 100 is described, but the present invention is in this embodiment. Not limited. Specifically, the heat exchange tube 20 is left in the horizontal state from the first aligning device 10 in which the heat exchange tube 20 formed in the shape of a hairpin is arranged in a so-called horizontal stack with the two legs 24 horizontal. Only the heat exchange tube aligning device 100 for transferring in a positioned state on the mounting table 31 may be used.

Further, it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the embodiments described above and various modifications are appropriately combined.

10 First alignment device,
12 base, 13 casters, 14 guides, 15 handles, 16 bottom plate,
20 heat exchange tube,
22 Folded part, 24 legs, 24L left leg, 24R right leg,
30 Second alignment device,
31 mounting table, 32 retracting mechanism, 33 retracting guide, 33A contact surface,
34 Positioning unit, 35 Mounting table moving unit,
35A rack and pinion mechanism, 35B pinion gear drive motor,
35C rail,
36 Horizontal drive unit, 37 Guide rail, 38 Vertical drive unit,
39 retracting part, 39A first locking tool, 39B second locking tool, 39Ba reduced diameter part,
50 1st alignment device fixing part, 52 elevating device, 54 elevating plate,
100 heat exchange tube aligner,
200 heat exchanger manufacturing equipment,
300 heat exchange tube insertion device,
302 guide part, 304 contact body holding part, 305 contact body, 306 insertion drive part,
MC operation control unit,
PL1 1st mounting plate, PL2 2nd mounting plate,
AX1, AX2 rotation axis,
Fin laminate holder for FH heat exchanger,
Laminate of fins for FS heat exchanger,
GP guide pin,
500 heat exchanger manufacturing equipment,
510 Laminate of heat exchanger fins,
520 heat exchange tube

Claims (7)

The two legs of the heat exchange tube formed in the shape of a hairpin inserted into the fins for the heat exchanger are positioned horizontally, and the bottom plate in which a plurality of the heat exchange tubes are laminated in the vertical direction and the bottom plate A first aligning device having a guide body that is erected and guides the stacking direction of the heat exchange tubes.
An elevating device that raises and lowers the bottom plate so that the heat exchange tube located at the top of the plurality of laminated heat exchange tubes is always located at a predetermined height position.
A pull-in mechanism for pulling in the heat exchange tube located at the uppermost portion of the plurality of laminated heat exchange tubes in the first alignment device, and an outer circumference of each leg of the heat exchange tube pulled in by the pull-in mechanism. A pull-in guide that guides the surface and aligns the distance between the legs of the heat exchange tube with the through-hole pitch of the heat exchanger fin to be inserted, and a pull-in guide during or after the pull-in mechanism. It has a positioning unit that enters between the legs of the heat exchange tube to position the heat exchange tube, a mounting table having at least the pull-in guide and the positioning unit, and a mounting table moving unit that moves the heat exchange tube to a predetermined position. The second aligner and
A heat exchange tube aligner equipped with. The heat exchange tube alignment device according to claim 1, wherein the elevating device is a part of the first alignment device or the second alignment device. The heat exchange tube aligning device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the pull-in guide is a roller. The heat exchange tube aligning device according to claim 3, wherein the contact surface of the roller with the heat exchange tube is formed in an arc shape. The heat exchange tube aligning device according to claim 3 or 4, wherein only one leg of the heat exchange tube is in contact with the roller. One of claims 1 to 5, wherein the pull-in guide and the positioning portion are arranged in a pair at a plurality of places in the pull-in direction of the heat exchange tube of the above-mentioned stand. The heat exchange tube aligning device according to one item. The heat exchange tube alignment device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the first alignment device is mounted on a carriage.

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